Running notebook: Houston Marathon plans changes starting line

Updated 8:15 pm, Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Despite a reputation for putting on well-organized events, it seemed like the Houston Marathon Committee could never get off to a good start.

The scene outside the George R. Brown Convention Center on race morning usually has been congested and chaotic as runners struggle to get to the dual starting lines of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. One year, some runners resorted to dismantling the chain-link fence erected along Crawford Street because access was so restricted they worried they might not reach the race before the starting gun went off.

Fewer bumps in road

But now, in response to participant feedback, the committee has unveiled a plan to eliminate - or at least reduce - the problems that have plagued the starting area for years.

Among the major changes are:

• Switching the starting streets for the two races. The half marathon, which has more runners, will now line up on Crawford Street, which is closer to the convention center than La Branch Street, where the marathon will now begin.

• Adding a third starting area, or corral, for the half marathon. Two of the three corrals will branch off Crawford, rather than stretch down the street. This will reduce the number of runners trying to get to a single area, organizers say.

The marathon also is enlisting more volunteers to help steer runners to the proper places and will have larger gates leading into the corrals. The races also will have a single, rolling start, rather than two waves, 10 minutes apart.

Carly Caulfield, the marathon's director of operations, said she spent six months researching ways to improve the starting-line experience for non-elite runners. She observed other events and asked race directors and timing companies for ideas.

"We've talked about it with anyone who will listen to get feedback and make sure we're focused on the runner's point of view," Caulfield said. "We've looked at their mistakes as well as their successes."

Thinking outside the GRB

Somewhat ironically, the marathon's greatest asset, the convention center, is also a liability, Caulfield said.

"The GRB - we love it," she said. "We have that indoor facility. But it causes us some problems that are unique.

"At most marathons, you're already outside, so you might as well go into your corral. Here, everybody stays inside to the very last minute, then they wonder why there are so many people in the line at gear check."

As it turns out, runners will have one less reason - and it's an important one - to stay inside this year. The marathon has less space inside the convention center because of a scheduling conflict with another event. To compensate, Caulfield said, portable toilets won't be available inside the GRB before the race. Instead, 300 will be situated at the intersection of Rusk and Avenida de las Americas, and another 150 will be placed inside the corrals for each pace group and arranged so they are less likely to interfere with people lining up.

"We're trying to make the best of it," Caulfield said. "Port-A-Cans will run the length of the corrals.